Nawaz Sharif says nothing unusual in his trip to Saudi Arabia

ISLAMABAD: In a clear response to rumours that he went to Saudi Arabia to strike a deal to get away with the corruption charges, ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif said on Wednesday his trip to the kingdom was not something unusual.

In his first interaction with media corps after his return from Saudi Arabia, he said Pakistan has strong ties with Saudi Arabia as it considers the former a friendly and brotherly country.

Speaking to the media outside an accountability court in Islamabad, Sharif said no financial irregularity has been proved against him. Those propagating against him were in fact playing havoc with the country, he added.

Continuing with his tirade against the judiciary, he said he was dislodged from office merely over an imaginary salary, while his arch-rival PTI chief Imran Khan was absolved of corruption despite having admitted to the crime.

Khan admitted to having established an offshore company, and concealing details of transaction of millions of pounds, yet he succeeded in getting off hook and was declared Sadiq and Amin (truthful and trustworthy), the former premier said.

He said by-election on a National Assembly seat vacated by him after his disqualification was a referendum, which he won against the PTI chief and the bench.

Referring to bail granted by an anti-terrorism court to Imran Khan in cases related to his 2014 sit-in, Sharif said it was a long tale, which he would tell soon.

The upcoming general elections will be a referendum on his ouster, he declared.